The Doctors Discussion Thread

[Khan]

I think so, Amy.

[amybrickwallace]

Thank you. Did any other soaps tape at 30 Rock? The last program I know of that filmed there was that short-lived primetime news show with Brian Williams - he said that they had found pieces of sets left over from TD.

[will81]

I am curious about The Doctors going from self-contained stories to the more serialised format. Wiki states When it first aired in 1963 as an anthology, it did so for a trial run with self-contained episodes about medical emergencies. When the show was brought back in 1964, the show finally adopted a serial form of storytelling.

This seems to suggest the show was off air for a period of time. Anyone know if this is the case and how long it was off air?

Edited October 5, 2014 by will81

[amybrickwallace]

I don't have the book handy at the moment, but I would recommend that you pick up Robert LaGuardia's Soap World. It was published in 1983 (never updated to my knowledge), and has long been out of print - but you can find it through your library system and/or used book venues like Amazon. TD was among the cancelled soaps given a full synopsis of its entire run. It splits the anthology and serial formats. I believe it gives the airdates, too.

[Paul Raven]

April 1st 1963 The Doctors premieres with a story a day format.

July 9th Story a week format begins. Matt Powers added to regular cast.

March 2nd 1964 Serial format begins.

The show was never off air.

[amybrickwallace]

Didn't Jim Pritchett play a patient in the anthology format? Then it turned out the producers liked him so much that they brought him back to play the lead when it went to serial format?

[danfling]

Yes, I mentioned that earlier. The patient was a businessman, I understand.

[will81]

Sweet I will go hunting for that. Sounds like a book I should have.

Ahh thanks for the info. Clears it up. At least back then they were trying different things in daytime.

[amybrickwallace]

I wonder exactly what the nature of Althea's relationship was with the hospital chaplain, Sam Schaeffer, that was brought up in her therapy sessions. None of the soap books or any synopsis I've read mentions it at all. I do know he was played by Fred J. Scollay, who went on to play Charley Hobson on AW in the late 70s, father to Clarice and husband to Ada. He also had a recurring role as a judge on L&O back in the early 90s - and I believe his last appearance was him telling Michael Moriarty's EADA Ben Stone not to screw up the case. Last I heard, he is still alive at the age of 91.

[JWDrama1980]

[DRW50]

That's a nice collage.

It's so strange actually seeing Bethel Leslie as Maggie. I can't say she's been some revelation - I still prefer Lydia Bruce - but it's nice to be able to put a name to the face, and I do think she does a decent job in the role.

[JWDrama1980]

Episode #1306 (12-05-1967)

[BetterForgotten]

I always get a kick out of seeing Liz Hubbard as such a dynamic younger woman after loving her for years as Lucinda.

[KMan101]

Grateful for the link. Haven't had a chance to really start watching yet. Looking at the screencaps, so annoying that a different Orlando station picked up RetroTV and I can't pick it up. Grr. As long as the episodes stay uploaded though ...

[Paul Raven]

Bethel Leslie took over as Maggie in October 65

Variety reported in October 66

Bert Berman, producer of NBC-TV's daytimer, "The Doctors," has brought his crew-back to the newly renovated NBC Studio 3A after six month exile at 1481 Broadway. .

Apparently Studio 3A was being upgraded for color broadcasting.

Edited October 5, 2014 by Paul Raven